"Yes," she panted, a shiver tearing down her spine at his filthy words.

"Not good enough," he growled. "You can still speak."

Lucifer bit down on her lip, piercing the skin as he pulled out of her. Grabbing her hips, he flipped her over, his rough hand pinning her down, breasts flat against the table. A startled yelp echoed through the room as he thrust into her from behind, filling her deeper than before. A nauseating saltiness coated Serah’s tongue as she licked her lips. She winced at the sharp burn and swiped her finger across her mouth, startled to see the smear of red.

Blood.

She had little time to consider what that meant as he started pounding into her, harder and harder, deeper and deeper. A loud cry tore from her as she clawed at the table, the marble crumbling as her fingernails dug deep ruts into the hard stone. Startling sensations swarmed her body, nothing like the tingles she felt before. This was a ruthless strike of lightning surging through every centimeter of her body, infusing every cell, altering her at the core. She could feel her body coming alive, growing stronger every second while another part of her deteriorated, unwittingly fading into something more. Her chest viciously ached like it was in a vise grip, triggering throbbing beneath her skin. She could hear it above the sound of their skin slapping together, the thump-thump-thumping of a pulse, beating for the very first time.

It seemed to explode inside of her as her heart kick-started, sending all of her senses into overdrive. The musky smell of sex and sweat filtered into her lungs, her vision blurring, her skin prickling with goose bumps. A cold breeze wafted through the room, a stark difference from the burning fire of Lucifer’s hands on her flesh. He tightly gripped one of her hips as his other hand stroked the small of her back and the curve of her behind, the rough calluses of his fingers like sandpaper against her sensitive skin.

He battered her, again and again, taking no mercy on her body. She ached where they connected, a pleasurable sting as he stretched and filled her. They fit together tightly, like leather clinging to wet skin, where he ended and she began a blur of sensation. Serah tried to clear her head, tried to make sense of it all, but the feelings were too overwhelming, too cloudy to see through.

Lucifer leaned over her, his chest pressed to her back, his warmth nearly scorching her skin. His cool breath fanned against her as his tongue swirled along her earlobe, a light chuckle vibrating his chest as she violently shivered.

"Give in to it," he growled in her ear. "Give yourself to me."

Never, a shrill voice in the back of her mind screamed out, warning her, but she was too far-gone to listen. Her lips softly moved as she mouthed, "I’m yours," the words barely a whisper, a mere shuddering breath, but it was enough for him.

The air shifted at that moment, the split-second, snap decision where she’d pledged herself to him changing everything. A loud crack of thunder split the ceiling, the walls starting to crumble around them as Lucifer slammed into her hard from behind. Brutal shockwaves seized her body as she erupted in orgasm, quaking with pleasure, screams of ecstasy burning her raw throat. She tightened around him as he let loose, a feral growl ripping from his chest as the two of them came together. She could feel him, pulsing as he spilled inside of her, warming her from the inside out. A familiar tingle—the tickle of her Grace energizing—stirred in her body, stronger and stronger, higher and higher, building to the point of detonation.

Lucifer let out a sigh, tickling her skin as he nuzzled into her neck. He placed a soft, chaste kiss near her ear as he whispered, "Thank you, angel."

Fierce wind shook the room, extinguishing the candles, as the energy in her body seemed to purge from her in a whoosh, taking the breath from her lungs. Lucifer pried himself away from her in another crack of thunder. In the glow of the lightning, Serah could see the massive shadows on the floor where Lucifer’s black wings had erupted from his back. She forced herself off the table and spun around, eyes wide as she took in the sight before her.

Lucifer’s tanned skin glowed orange, the sigils and markings on his chest and arms pulsating just like they had when he struck the gate. But now, instead of burning brighter, reining him in, forcing the creature back into his prison, condemning him from ever hurting an innocent soul, the black markings glowed orange, gradually blending into his skin.

Serah blinked rapidly, her breathing accelerated as Lucifer slowly lifted off the ground, hovering in the air in front of her. He tilted his head back as a ball of light erupted from his chest, so bright and intense Serah had to shield her eyes and look away. It was as if his entire body had become engulfed in flames.

When the brightness faded, she peered over at him, meeting his eyes. They were bright blue, vibrant and crisp, swirling like the lake they’d gone swimming in together. She was so caught up in his eyes, so entranced by his inhuman Archangel beauty—the chisel of his jaw, the immense wingspan, the dimples around his soft smirk—that she nearly didn’t notice his skin was now free and clear of markings.

Her Grace, she realized. She'd given herself to him. She’d healed his wounds as it surged through his body, replenishing him like Michael had done to her countless times. Terror ran through her, seizing her now-beating heart as she frantically shook her head, not wanting to believe it. Lucifer just stared at her, not an ounce of surprise in his expression. He’d known it would happen.

It had been his plan all along.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, the blue fading back to darkness. "So fucking sorry."